Monday, memories......Mom

Sometimes we just need to stop and reflect about life. I'm doing that today, remembering the greatest lady I've ever known....my mom. She died October 25th, 1990, at the tender age of 55 from lung cancer. Stay with me here...going to work in reverse. Actually, I remember that day being special. At the time, my girls were 2 1/2 and 6 months. I literally had moved in with my folks to help take care of mom. My hubby was a huge support during all of this, as he and my mom had some kind of special bond! Me and my 2 brothers sat on the bed with her the night before she died, remembering great and funny things about her; she would have loved to participate in that conversation! We could only pray that all of us could have a "send-off" as special as she had, and certainly deserved. Her husband, children, and grand-children, lovingly surrounded her and handed her over to the Lord; he obviously needed her there. To this day, I believe she is my guardian angel. Who on earth could/would have helped me through all those ridiculously stupid tight spots I've been in over the years!!
I still have, and cherish the last birthday present she gave me.
She watched my youngest daughter come into this world...a time I wouldn't take a million dollars for.
She lovingly and patiently answered ALL the phone calls everyday, with questions about recipes, child-rearing, whatever. She NEVER told me she was too busy to chat at that moment.
She patiently waited for me to outgrow the "sowing of the wild oats" knowing she had "raised me right" and I would return to my roots.
She quietly listened to me 'carry on' when my heart got broken.
**She protected me from my father's wrath after he discovered a written private conversation between me and my high school sweetheart** That is the point at which I finally took her valuable advice: "Never put in writing what you don't want the whole world to see"...passed that one on to my kids---they didn't listen, either!!
She attended every music event that I played or sang in, and every ballgame I cheered at, and did that with pride....I could see it.
Again, she protected my from my father's wrath when I broke my arm---after I had done something I knew was wrong, when I was in the 5th grade.  (I really wasn't a bad kid!)
She lovingly made sure I was dressed to the T, whether 'store bought' or from her efforts on the sewing machine---I still have her machine.
There are a couple of things I will ask her to clear up when I see her again: 1) exactly what is a 'cup-o' (she would go to a neighbors house for  cup-o),  2) why do they call it a 'dummy' hand in bridge, and why bother have it?! and 3) did she and daddy REALLY get married on February 24th, or was it 'just a few months later'? :)
I was able to teach her one thing----we learned how to apply make-up together. Funny, the things you remember. I'll bet she learned more than one thing over the years!
I'm happy knowing she is looking down on me each day. Know we'll see each other again someday. One regret---she didn't know my girls. She would have been the coolest Nana ever, and they would adore her...just like I do.


Blessings... G.R.I.T.S. (Girl Raised In The South)